FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a gadolinium-based compound, and an MRI contrast
agent containing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0002] Today, the number of patients with degenerative brain disease is increasing due to
the aging of the population. Accordingly, the need for early detection of the disease
is emerging. Degenerative brain diseases include Parkinson's disease, vascular dementia,
Alzheimer's disease, and the like. Neurotoxicity due to excessive accumulation of
amyloid beta polymer (oligomeric Aβ) is considered as one of the causes of the disease.
[0003] The amyloid beta (Aβ) is a major component of amyloid plaque found in a brain of
an Alzheimer's patient, and refers to 36 to 43 amino acid peptides that are critically
involved in the Alzheimer's disease. The peptide is derived from amyloid precursor
protein (APP).
[0004] The amyloid beta molecules may aggregate with each other to form a soluble polymer
that may exist in several forms. It is known that the formed amyloid beta polymer
(oligomeric Aβ) is toxic to nerve cells, and excessive accumulation in the brain thereof
is directly involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, it was
expected that sensing change in a concentration of the amyloid beta polymer would
enable early diagnosis of the degenerative brain diseases.
[0005] Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) refers to a method of obtaining anatomical, physiological,
and biochemical information images of the body using a phenomenon in which the distributions
of hydrogen atoms in different tissues of the body are different from each other and
the hydrogen atoms are relaxed in a magnetic field. Unlike CT or PET, MRI does not
use radiation harmful to the human body and creates images inside the body using the
gradient of the magnetic field and radio waves under a strong magnetic field. Thus,
the MRI is non-invasive, has high resolution, and has excellent soft tissue examination
capabilities.
[0006] In order to use the MRI equipment more precisely, a contrast agent is injected into
a subject to obtain an MRI image. The contrast between tissues on the MRI image is
a phenomenon that occurs because the relaxation actions in which the nuclear spins
of water molecules to return to the equilibrium state in the different tissues are
different from each other. The contrast agent uses a paramagnetic or superparamagnetic
material to affect the relaxation action to enhance the difference in relaxation between
tissues and thus induce change in the MRI signal to make the contrast between the
tissues clearer.
[0007] Currently, the most commonly used contrast agent in clinical practice is a contrast
agent based on gadolinium (Gd) chelate. Currently, Gd-DTPA (Magnevist
®), Gd-DOTA (Dotaram
®), Gd(DTPA-BMA) (Omniscan
®), Gd(DO3A-HP) (ProHance
®), Gd(BOPTA) (MultiHance
®), etc. are being used. However, most of the commercially available contrast agents
are non-specific contrast agents distributed in the extracellular fluid (ECF). Only
a liver-specific contrast agent is used as a specific contrast agent.
[0008] Recent research is related to the development of a contrast agent that has a specific
target or that may exhibit signal enhancement due to physiological activity (pH change,
enzyme activity). Currently, sufficient results about MRI contrast agents specific
to degenerative brain diseases have not been obtained.
DISCLOSURE
TECHNICAL PURPOSE
[0009] One purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a compound that specifically
binds to an amyloid beta polymer.
[0010] It is another purpose of the present disclosure to provide an MRI contrast agent
containing the compound.
[0011] Still another purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a pharmaceutical composition
for preventing or treating neuroinflammatory diseases, the composition comprising
the compound.
TECHNICAL SOLUTION
[0012] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a compound represented by a following
Chemical Formula (1):
where L is *-(CH2)x-A1-(CH2)y-A2-(CH2)z-*,
each of x, y and z is an integer independently selected from 0 to 5,
each of A1 and A2 is at least one structure selected from a group consisting of a single bond, *-COO-*,
*-CO-*, *-NH-*, *-CH2-*, *-CONH-* and *-O-*,
X has a structure represented by a following Chemical Formula (2):


where * is a binding site.
[0013] In one embodiment, A
2 may be *-NH-*.
[0014] In one embodiment, A
1 may be *-CONH-*.
[0015] In one embodiment, x may be 1.
[0016] In one embodiment, y may be 2.
[0017] In one embodiment, z may be 0.
[0018] In one embodiment, the compound may be represented by a following Chemical Formula
(3):

[0019] In one embodiment, the gadolinium (Gd) may coordinate with at least one water molecule.
[0020] In one embodiment, the compound may specifically bind to amyloid beta polymer (oligomeric
Aβ) of a mammal.
[0021] In one embodiment, the compound may have a relaxivity of 3.7 to 4.6 s
-1.
[0022] In one embodiment, when the compound is injected intravenously, the compound may
flow through a blood-brain-barrier (BBB).
[0023] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides an MRI contrast agent comprising
the compound as described above.
[0024] In one embodiment, the MRI contrast agent may be used for diagnosis of degenerative
brain diseases.
[0025] In one embodiment, the MRI contrast agent may be used for diagnosis of Alzheimer's
disease.
[0026] Still another aspect of the present disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition
for preventing or treating a neuroinflammatory disease, the composition comprising
the compound as described above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
[0027] In one embodiment, the neuroinflammatory disease may be an inflammatory neurodegenerative
brain disease.
[0028] In one embodiment, the inflammatory neurodegenerative brain disease may be selected
from Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease.
TECHNICAL EFFECTS
[0029] The compound according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may specifically
bind to an amyloid beta polymer, and thus, the MRI contrast agent including the compound
may be used to diagnose degenerative brain diseases including Alzheimer's disease.
[0030] Further, the compound according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may have
an anti-inflammatory function of reducing NLRP3, ASC, iL-1β, etc. as factors related
to the occurrence of neuroinflammation, and of inhibiting amyloid beta production
by reducing Aβ and Bace-1 related to amyloid beta expression, and thus may be used
as an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating
the neuroinflammatory diseases.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIGS. 1 to 9 are diagrams showing experimental results according to an experimental
example of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS
[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure may be subjected to
various changes and may have various forms. Thus, particular embodiments will be illustrated
in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, this is not intended
to limit the present disclosure to a specific disclosed form. It should be understood
that the present disclosure includes all modifications, equivalents, and replacements
included in the spirit and technical scope of the present disclosure. While describing
the drawings, similar reference numerals are used for similar components. In the accompanying
drawings, the dimensions of the structures are shown to be exaggerated to make the
clarity of the present disclosure.
[0033] The terminology used herein is directed to the purpose of describing particular embodiments
only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein,
the singular constitutes "a" and "an" are intended to include the plural constitutes
as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprise", "including", "include", and "including" when used in this
specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, operations,
elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or
more other features, integers, operations, elements, components, and/or portions thereof.
[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used
herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art to which this inventive concept belongs. It will be further understood that terms,
such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having
a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art
and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly
so defined herein.
[0035] A compound according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may have the following
Chemical Formula (1):

[0036] In the Chemical Formula (1), gadolinium ions (Gd
3+) may coordinate with a carboxylate (COO) group of the Chemical Formula (1) to form
a complex.
[0037] In the Chemical Formula (1), L may be *-(CH
2)
x-A
1-(CH
2)
y-A
2-(CH
2)
z-*, each of x, y and z may be an integer independently selected from 0 to 5, each
of A
1 and A
2 may be at least one structure selected from a group consisting of a single bond,
*-COO-*, *-CO-*, *-NH-*, *-CH
2-*, *-CONH-* and *-O-*. * may denote a binding site.
[0038] L may be a linker that connects nitrogen to X in a cyclic structure of the compound.
Each of A
1 and A
2 may determine a manner in which the linker connects nitrogen to X in the cyclic structure
of the compound or a functional group determined based on the manner. x, y, and z
may determine a length of a chain connecting A
1 and A
2 to each other in the linker. In one embodiment, A
2 may be *-NH-*. In one embodiment, A
1 may be *-CONH-*. In one embodiment, x may be 1. In one embodiment, y may be 2. In
one embodiment, z may be 0.
[0039] As long as the compound according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has
the structure of the Chemical Formula (1), a bond or removal of a bond acceptable
to a person having ordinary skill in the art may be included in the scope of the present
disclosure. For example, in one embodiment, the gadolinium (Gd) may coordinate with
one or more water molecules in the compound.
[0040] In the Chemical Formula (1), X may have a structure represented by a following Chemical
Formula (2):

where * is a binding site.
[0041] In one embodiment, the compound may be represented by a following Chemical Formula
(3):

[0042] In one embodiment, the compound may specifically bind to amyloid beta polymer (oligomeric
Aβ) of a mammal. In one embodiment, the compound may have a relaxivity of 3.7 to 4.6
s
-1. In one embodiment, when the compound is injected intravenously, the compound may
flow through a blood-brain-barrier (BBB).
[0043] As described above, the compound according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
may specifically bind to the amyloid beta polymer.
[0044] The MRI contrast agent according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include
the compound. In an embodiment, the MRI contrast agent may be used for diagnosis of
degenerative brain diseases. In an embodiment, the MRI contrast agent may be used
for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease.
[0045] As described above, the MRI contrast agent according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure may be used in the diagnosis of degenerative brain diseases including Alzheimer's
disease.
[0046] A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating neuroinflammatory diseases
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the compound or a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In an embodiment, the neuroinflammatory
disease may be an inflammatory neurodegenerative brain disease. In one embodiment,
the inflammatory neurodegenerative brain disease may be a disease selected from Alzheimer's
disease or Parkinson's disease.
[0047] In an embodiment, the "pharmaceutically acceptable salt" is not limited particularly
as long as it forms an addition salt with the compound. The pharmaceutically acceptable
salt includes a salt derived from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic acids, organic
acids, or bases. The compound according to the present disclosure may be converted
into the salt thereof using a conventional method. The preparation of the salt may
be easily performed by one of ordinary skill in the art, based on a structure of the
compound without a separate description thereof.
[0048] The pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure may include the compound
represented by the Chemical Formula 1 or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof
alone. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure may
further include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in addition thereto. The pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier may be those commonly used in the pharmaceutical field, and may
include an excipient (e.g. starch, calcium carbonate, sucrose, lactose, sorbitol,
mannitol, cellulose, etc.) or a diluent (e.g. saline, purified water, etc.).
[0049] The term "prevention" as used herein refers to the inhibition of the development
of an illness or a disease in a subject who has never been diagnosed as having a neuroinflammatory
illness or disease, but tends to be susceptible to such illness or disease. In addition,
the term "treatment" as used herein refers to the inhibition of the development of
neuroinflammatory illness or diseases, the alleviation of the illness or diseases,
and the elimination of the illness or diseases.
[0050] The pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure may be prepared in various
parenterally or orally administered forms according to known methods.
[0051] Hereinafter, an example of the present disclosure will be described in detail. However,
the example described below is merely an embodiment of the present disclosure, and
the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following example.
<Synthesis of Gd-DO3A-Va>
[0052]

[0053] A Gd-DO3A-Va compound as a final material 5 was prepared by synthesizing a material
1 to the material 5 in a stepwise manner.
① Synthesis of tri-tert-butyl 2,2',2"-(10-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetate
as material 1
[0054] Tri-tert-butyl 2,2',2"-(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetate (9.72
mmol) was dissolved in 160 mL acetonitrile to prepare a solution, and potassium bicarbonate
(29.69 mmol) was added thereof, followed by stirring thereof for 30 minutes. Afterwards,
ethyl bromoacetate (10.69 mmol) was added thereto, followed by stirring thereof at
60°C for 24 hours. After 24 hours has elapsed, a resulting product was filtered through
a filter and then filtered under reduced pressure to remove the solvent therefrom.
A resulting product was dissolved in dichloromethane, and then, insoluble substances
were removed therefrom, and the solvent was entirely removed therefrom, and a resulting
product was vacuum dried to obtain a slightly yellow solid. Yield : 99%
② Synthesis of tri-tert-butyl 2,2',2"-(10-(2-oxo-2-((2-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzamido)ethyl)amino)ethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetate
as material 2
[0055] The material 1 (5.33 mmol) was dissolved in 7 mL of methanol, and 6 mL of ethylenediamine
was added thereto, and reaction was carried out at room temperature for 4 days. The
solvent was removed from the reaction product by heating the same to 55°C under vacuum,
such that an oil-like solid was obtained, which in turn was washed several times with
ethyl ether, and then was subjected to vacuum drying and was dissolved in methanol.
Then, insoluble substances were removed therefrom via filtration. Then, the resulting
product was subjected to open column chromatography under a mixed solvent condition
of dichloromethane/methanol to separate and purify a slightly yellow solid. Yield:
57%
(1) Synthesis of tri-tert-butyl 2,2',2"-(10-(2-((2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzamido)ethyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetate
as material 3
[0056] Vanillic acid (6.97 mmol) was dissolved in dimethylformamide to produce a solution,
followed by stirring thereof at 0°C. Afterwards, a solution in which EDC·HCl (7.67
mmol) and HOBt hydrate (7.67 mmol) were dissolved in dimethylformamide was added to
a gallic acid solution, followed by stirring thereof for 30 minutes. Next, a solution
in which the material 2 (4.88 mmol) was dissolved in dimethylformamide was added to
a reaction product, and DIPEA (13.94 mmol) was added thereto, followed by stirring
at room temperature for 24 hours. Afterwards, a resulting product was subjected to
filtration under reduced pressure such that dimethylformamide was concentrated as
much as possible. Then, extraction was carried out thereon using dichloromethane and
brine, and dehydration was carried out thereon with sodium sulfate, and filtration
under reduced pressure was carried out thereon. Afterwards, a resulting product was
subjected to open column chromatography under a mixed solvent condition of dichloromethane/methanol
to separate a solid. A next reaction was carried out without additional separation
and purification.
④ Synthesis of 2,2',2"-(10-(2-((2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzamido)ethyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetic
acid as material 4
[0057] An excess amount of trifluoroacetic acid was added to the material 3 at 0°C to a
produce a solution, followed by stirring at room temperature for 20 hours. Afterwards,
dichloromethane was added thereto, and filtration under reduced pressure was repeated
thereon. Next, a resulting product was subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography
using a mixed solvent of water/acetonitrile to which 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid was
added, thereby obtaining a purified solid. Yield (2 -> 4): 44%
⑤ Synthesis of Gd-DO3A-Va as material 5
[0058] The material 4 (0.84 mmol) was dissolved in water to produce a solution, and pH thereof
was adjusted to 3 using 1 M sodium hydroxide. Then, a solution in which GdCl
3·6H
2O (0.59 mmol) was dissolved in water was added thereto. Afterwards, pH thereof was
adjusted to 7 using 1 M sodium hydroxide, followed by stirring at room temperature
for 20 hours. A resulting product was subjected to filtration under reduced pressure
to obtain a solid. The solid was subjected to separation and purification using high-performance
liquid chromatography in a water/acetonitrile mixed solvent with 10 mM ammonium acetate
added thereto, thereby obtaining a solid. Yield: 73%
<HR-MS and purity analysis results of Gd-D03A-Va>
[0059] Gd-DO3A-Va was analyzed through HR-MS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the result. Referring
to FIG. 1, it may be identified that the peak (752.1894 m/z) corresponding to the
predicted peak (752.1890 m/z) related to Gd-DO3A-Va appears.
[0060] Furthermore, the results of analyzing the purity of Gd-DO3A-Va using HPLC are shown
in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, it may be identified that Gd-DO3A-Va has a purity
of approximately 98%.
<Gd-D03A-Va performance evaluation method and result>
1) Measurement of relaxivity
[0061] The relaxivity (r
1, r
2) of each of synthesized Gd-DO3A-Va, and cyclic commercial contrast agents Gadovist
® and Dotarem
® as comparison groups material was measured. Specifically, a phantom was prepared
by diluting the gadolinium complex in tertiary distilled water to five concentrations
(0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1 mM), and then T
1 and T
2 relaxation times were measured in 3T MRI. Thus, R (Relaxation rate=1/T) of each concentration
was calculated and the relaxivity (r
1, r
2) result of the gadolinium complex was obtained through linear regression analysis
(see FIG. 3) and shown in a following Table 1.
Table 1
|
r1 |
r2 |
Gd-DO3A-Va |
3.8±0.1 |
4.4±0.2 |
Gadovist® |
3.9±0.1 |
4.8±0.1 |
Dotarem® |
3.4±0.1 |
3.9±0.2 |
[0062] Referring to Table 1 above, it may be identified that the r
1 of Gd-DO3A-Va has a value of 3.8±0.1 and r
2 thereof has a value of 4.4±0.2. This value is a relaxivity value sufficient for clinical
use. Thus, it was confirmed that Gd-DO3A-Va may be used as a contrast agent.
2) Kinetic stability evaluation
[0063] A phantom was prepared by diluting each of Gd-DO3A-Va and various commercial contrast
agents in PBS (pH 7.4) to a concentration of 2.5mM, and then 1 equivalent of 250mM
zinc chloride (ZnCl
2) was added thereto. Thus, binding stability of a DO3A ligand and the Gd metal ion
was evaluated. This may be identified based on a result of measuring the transmetallation
of gadolinium ions due to zinc ions as a change in the relaxivity.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 4 showing the result, it may be identified that Gd-DO3A-Va in accordance
with the present disclosure has sufficient stability to be used as the MRI contrast
agent because the R
2 change thereof is maintained at a value approximate to 1.
3) pH stability evaluation
[0065] 1mM of each of Gd-DO3A-Va and Gadovist
® as a commercial contrast agent as a comparison group was diluted in a buffer solution
with pH 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and then T
2-weighted images were taken at 3T MRI for 3 weeks to measure the R
2 value. The R
2 value was measured over time, and the change in the value immediately after the dilution
may be identified. The more the value remains constant, the higher the pH stability.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 5 showing the result, Gd-DO3A-Va in accordance with the present
disclosure exhibited no change in the R
2 value for 3 weeks in the pH range of 3 to 11, and the value change was not significant
in a strong acid condition of pH 1. Based on the result, it was confirmed that Gd-DO3A-Va
is stable under in-body pH conditions and is stable under strong acid and base conditions.
4) Evaluation of amyloid beta polymer targeting ability
4-1) Phantom experiment method to check the amyloid beta polymer targeting ability
[0067]
① 221.5 uL of HFIP was added to 1 mg of amyloid beta at a concentration of 1 mM, followed
by shaking for 1 hour at room temperature using a shaker to remove preaggregation.
② The amyloid beta from which the preaggregation was removed was dried, and 221.5
uL of DMSO was added thereto to achieve a 1 mM concentration. Using a mixer and sonicator,
a suspension thereof was prepared, and 878.5 uL of PBS (1X, pH 7.4) was added thereto
to achieve a 0.2 mM concentration.
(1) After incubating the suspension at 37°C for 4 days using a shaker, the polymerized
amyloid beta polymer was dispensed by 200 uL. Then, 20 uL of a solution in which each
of Gd-DO3A-Va and the commercial contrast agent (Gadovist®) was dissolved in PBS at 2mM concentration was added thereto. The incubation was
carried out thereon at 37°C for 24 hours using a shaker.
④ After 24 hours has elapsed, centrifugation was performed thereon to remove the supernatant
therefrom. The amyloid beta polymer was washed using PBS. 200 uL of a solution of
PBS:DMSO = 9:1 was added to a pellet to prepare an MRI phantom sample. As a control,
a phantom sample obtained by incubating only the amyloid beta polymer was used.
4-2) Amyloid beta polymer targeting effect analysis result
[0068] Using the phantom sample, the amyloid beta polymer targeting ability evaluation of
each of Gd-DO3A-Va according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and the commercial
contrast agent (Gadovist
®) was performed on a 9.4T MR equipment.
[0069] Referring to FIG. 6 showing the result, there was little difference in contrast enhancement
effect between the phantom (Aβ) obtained by incubating only amyloid beta polymer and
the phantom (Aβ+Gadovist) obtained by incubating the amyloid beta polymer and Gadovist
®. However, the phantom (Aβ+ Gd-DO3A-Va) obtained by incubating the amyloid beta polymer
and Gd-DO3A-Va exhibited a signal intensity that increased, compared to the phantom
obtained by incubating the only amyloid beta polymer. Thus, it was confirmed that
the gadolinium contrast agent in accordance with the present disclosure has a targeting
effect on the amyloid beta polymer.
[0070] The overexpressed amyloid beta polymer may be accumulated in the brain, thereby causing
Alzheimer's disease as a degenerative brain disease. Thus, Gd-DO3A-Va according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure has the function of targeting the amyloid
beta polymer as a toxic protein, and may be used as an agent to diagnose the Alzheimer's
disease.
5) In vitro toxicity evaluation
[0071] An experiment was conducted to evaluate cytotoxicity against each of C8-D1A (Astrocyte
cells) and SIM-A9 (Microglial cells), and the results are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 7, when Gd-DO3A-Va was administered at various concentrations (0,
100, 200, 400 µM), cell viability was about 100% when the concentration increased
up to a high concentration of 400 µM.
[0073] The cytotoxicity evaluation result on SIM-A9 (Microglial cells) is also shown in
FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, when Gd-DO3A-Va was administered at various concentrations
(0, 100, 200, 400 µM), cell viability was approximately 100% as the concentration
increases up to a high concentration of 400 µM.
[0074] The two main types of brain cells are neurons and neuroglia. The neuroglia includes
astrocytes and microglia. The neuroglia is known to support neurons and provide nutrients.
It is confirmed that Gd-DO3A-Va has no cytotoxicity against the brain cells such as
astrocytes and microglia when the concentration thereof increases up to a high concentration
of 400 µM.
6) In vivo efficacy evaluation
[0075] Gd-DO3A-Va was administered repeatedly 15 times over 2 months to 5XFAD (6 months,
male) as a dementia mouse model. The control group is a group in which saline was
administered to the mice of the same age, and WB refers to a group of the non-treated
mice of age of 6 months. After completing the experiment, the brain of the mouse was
removed therefrom, and the hippocampus and cortex were separated therefrom, and were
analyzed through Western blot.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 9 showing the result, it was identified that the amounts of factors
related to inflammation, such as NLRP3, ASC, and iL-1β, etc. increased in the control
group, compared to WB. Further, in the Gd-DO3A-Va administered group, the amounts
of all of the above factors and Aβ and Bace-1 related to amyloid beta expression were
decreased. Through this experiment, it was confirmed that Gd-DO3A-Va treats Alzheimer's
disease by reducing the amount of the inflammatory factors and inhibiting the amyloid
beta production.
[0077] Although the description has been made above with reference to preferred embodiments
of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art may modify and change the present
disclosure in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure as set forth in the patent claims below.